Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Historical Equipment and Tales _ Book Recommendations?

Posted by: swizz May 2 2012, 08:10 AM

I've been devouring books at a high rate lately and am ready for a new read.
Any good recommendations for fiction or non-fiction books that pertain to or are set in an historical mining backdrop?
Preferably downloadable since I'm using Kindle.
Thanks!

Posted by: leonard May 2 2012, 09:44 AM

QUOTE (swizz @ May 2 2012, 08:10 AM) *
I've been devouring books at a high rate lately and am ready for a new read.
Any good recommendations for fiction or non-fiction books that pertain to or are set in an historical mining backdrop?
Preferably downloadable since I'm using Kindle.
Thanks!


For a good series of fiction, try http://www.booksbymitchell.com/cover.htm I have Gold rush 2000 and Gold Raid and enjoyed them. I see he has 2 new books I haven't read so I'll have to order them.

Leonard

Posted by: Kevin In Centennial May 2 2012, 01:01 PM

On kindle try "In the heart of the Rockies" by Hently

Fun first person story of the early days in CO! ....I am about 1/2 way thru it now :-)

Posted by: swizz May 2 2012, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the recommendations!
I just downloaded a Zane Grey book; "Shower Of Gold" and started reading it tonight. Very good so far! Oddly, I have never read Zane Grey novels. Could be a new niche for me... he was a prolific writer from that period.
Leonard, Ed's books aren't downloadable yet but I want to read his trilogy starting with Gold Lust.
Kevin, I will download "In The Heart Of The Rockies". That one is definitely right up my alley and I will read it next.
Thanks! cheers.gif

Posted by: swizz May 6 2012, 12:47 PM

I just finished "Shower Of Gold" by Zane Grey and really liked that one! Definitely a quick and easy read.
I tried to purchase and download "In The Heart Of The Rockies" from the Kindle Store on my device and ran into a wall of frustration with the Kindle/Amazon app when trying to log in and complete payment.
I normally download books from Google Play which is super easy to pay.
I found the book download on Google Play but unfortunately it is only available in "scanned pages" which sucks.
Kindle/Amazon has the good version available but they won't let me log in from my device so they have lost my business.
I might dive into another Zane Grey novel from Google Play.

Posted by: swizz May 6 2012, 01:07 PM

.... I went with "Riders Of The Purple Sage"

Posted by: russau May 6 2012, 04:14 PM

what i really like about Zane Gray is that of the books/stories he writes about, he visited those areas/towns and has a feel of what it was like and has actual referances of the locations. that ,to me, really adds to the story!

Posted by: swizz May 9 2012, 01:58 PM

Russ, I agree! Damn good author for that genre any way you slice it.

I'm half way through "Riders Of The Purple Sage" now... really enjoying it. research.gif eating-popcorn-03.gif

Posted by: OkieJon May 9 2012, 05:45 PM

I don't know if this is available in Kindle but it is a good read if you hang with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-gold-William-Downie/dp/0910118221

Posted by: swizz May 21 2012, 07:11 AM

Thanks Jon!
I'm still on the Zane Grey books.... finished Riders of the Purple Sage and have been reading Rainbow Trail now which is a sequel.

Posted by: Kurt Oct 27 2013, 09:59 AM

Across the Northern Frontier: Spanish Explorations in Colorado by Phil Carson

Books by H. glenn carson

Posted by: EMac Sep 18 2014, 12:23 PM

After about a year long search, I've finally found it at a reasonable price. Some experienced miners last year highly recommended reading "Gold: The Noble Mineral" by extraLapis which is no longer printed as far as I can tell.

It's on Amazon for over $100, but Strand Books in NYC emailed me this morning that they found a copy. Called them up and for $17.50 plus some shipping, it's on the way. Pretty stoked! extra_happy.gif

I originally ordered it a year ago on their website, but they cancelled the order because they couldn't physically locate the book.

Resurrecting Swizz' original questions, I like cop/private eye dramas, and Robert Crais is one of favorite authors (used to write for Hill Street Blues). I've picked up some old geology and gold books, and I like the Colorado Roadside Geology one, but the others I wouldn't recommend. Otherwise, I try to keep up with The Economist, Fortune and Parachutist news, but I'm almost ready to drop my Fortune subscription.

Posted by: fenixsmom Sep 18 2014, 12:46 PM

Can't help on you on that one, i only read dirty girl books! smiley-shocked003.gif

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 18 2014, 03:26 PM

It's not a mining related novel but I think The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton would suit your fancy.

Posted by: EMac Sep 18 2014, 04:28 PM

Oooh...just remembered one of my all time favorite science fiction books: The Mote in God's Eye.

I might have to find that to read again....the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mote_in_God%27s_Eye should be enough to pique your interest if you're into that genre.

@fenixsmom - those will rot your brain tongue.gif
@dypheron - I like Crichton too; don't recall if I've read that one though.

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 18 2014, 04:46 PM

QUOTE (EMac @ Sep 18 2014, 05:28 PM) *
Oooh...just remembered one of my all time favorite science fiction books: The Mote in God's Eye.

I might have to find that to read again....the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mote_in_God%27s_Eye should be enough to pique your interest if you're into that genre.

@fenixsmom - those will rot your brain tongue.gif
@dypheron - I like Crichton too; don't recall if I've read that one though.


Hands down my favorite author. I fell in love with his level of detail, something that was always lost in translation with movie adaptations of his work.

Posted by: EMac Sep 18 2014, 07:34 PM

Heinlein's really good, and I agree...books are almost always better than the movie.

Posted by: russau Sep 19 2014, 05:59 AM

one of my all time favorites is : Anceint rivers of gold it is usually listed in the back of my ICMJ magazine. it came with maps and a ancient River that im still looking for! this book refers to the "Blue Lead" on the west coast.

Posted by: EMac Sep 26 2014, 11:49 AM

QUOTE (EMac @ Sep 18 2014, 01:23 PM) *
After about a year long search, I've finally found it at a reasonable price. Some experienced miners last year highly recommended reading "Gold: The Noble Mineral" by extraLapis which is no longer printed as far as I can tell.

This is a great book so far...lots of interesting info.

Posted by: RhodoRose Sep 26 2014, 11:55 AM

"Money Mountain" by Marshall Sprague - a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek true history of Cripple Creek! Out of print, but readily and cheaply available on eBay... research.gif

Also by Marshall Sprague (and out of print but, again, readily available): "A Gallery of Dudes"

Posted by: swizz Oct 2 2014, 09:00 AM

Thanks Rhodo, those sound like my genre... I'll seek them out!

Posted by: Snacksquatch Jul 21 2015, 03:54 PM

QUOTE (swizz @ Oct 2 2014, 10:00 AM) *
Thanks Rhodo, those sound like my genre... I'll seek them out!


Rhodo beat me to Money Mountain, its a GREAT one!

Also, Climax by Stephen Voynick is a history of the Climax molybdenum mine, its a bit dry but really interesting. Incidentally, he's also written a couple good rockhounding books for Colorado as well.

If youre looking for fiction, check out stuff by Jack DuBrul, he's got a Clive Cussler style except his main hero is a geologist :)

Posted by: leonard Jul 22 2015, 08:40 AM

This is a pretty good fiction book. Gold Rush 2000 The price is right. There's a sequel but I can't find it.

http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Rush-2000-original-hardback/dp/0966844734

Leonard



Posted by: EMac Sep 2 2015, 08:53 AM

I'm finishing up Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and I'm looking for recommendations for a new series. Any suggestions? Gold Rush looks like it's worth a read if I can find it as an ebook, but I'd still like to find a new author/series that I enjoy.

Posted by: swizz Sep 2 2015, 09:16 AM

I read electronically on the Samsung Note now and my eyes love me for it. happy.gif
Just downloaded a Zane Grey 42 novels package for 99 cents the other day through Kindle!!! It might take me the rest of my life to finish all of those. I love his writing though and that is a hell of a bargain.
Last mining specific book I read was Diary Of A Forty Niner and really liked it.

Posted by: CP Sep 2 2015, 09:30 AM

That is a great deal on all those novels .... sweet!
I'll second the recommendation for "A Diary of A 49er" to read also, I thoroughly enjoyed that book as well. signs021.gif

Posted by: EMac Sep 2 2015, 09:33 AM

I'm still rolling with a 3rd edition Kindle; it's been great for years and is still going strong. I might have to pick up some Zane Grey; I've been reading y'all's reviews, and $1 for the mega pack might be worth a look.

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)